Container



C. DOPPELT July 12, 1938.

CONTAINER Filed April 13,-1936 Patented July 12`, 1938 yUNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Application April 13,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to thosewhich are used as utility bags or the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a utility containerwhich is neat and compact in appearance and which provides the fullcapacity of compartment space.

Another object is to provide a utility bag which presents a distinctiveand symmetrical appearance and which is characterized by a body which iscollapsible and extensible to vary its depth.

Another object is to provide a utility bag wherei in the foldableclosure sections are self-retained in an open or unfolded positionduring the filling i5 of the container.

Another object is to provide a utility bag which has a waterproofedinterior and which is economical and easy to manufacture.

More specifically, though without limitation, I provide a container foruse as a utility bag which has a collapsible and extensible body formedof rigid and flexible sections and has oppositelyspaced foldable topsections adapted to form the closure which when folded extend in a planesubstantially parallel with the base of the container.

In the drawing: Figure l is a view showing a perspective of myinvention;

Figure 2 is a view of an end elevation, partly cross section; Figure 3is a perspective view, broken off', showing my container in openposition; and

Figure 4 is a view in cross section of a modified form of container. 4

Itwill be seen that my container indicated generally at I0, is providedwith a base I I. having side Walls I2 and I3 and end walls I4 and I5, asshown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. Since both side walls and both endwalls are similarly constructed, a description of one of each of suchwalls will suffice. The side and end walls are formed of twosubstantially rigid sections I2a and I2b and I4 and I4, respectively,with intervening flexible or bellows-shaped sections I6 and I1. Sincethe body of the container is all preferably made of the same materialthroughout, such as leather, or the like, which would have the samepliability, I provide supporting strips I8 and I9 formed of fibre orcardboard which are secured adjacent to the side and end walls toprovide the substantially rigid sections. Each of these strips can be ofa length suiflcient to extend around the interior walls of the containerand can be secured thereto by glue or the like. Instead of fibre or1936, Serial No. 73,995

(Cl. 19o-48) cardboard I can use metal strips to form the supportingmembers.

Formed integrally with the side walls and `extending upwardly thereof.are oppositely positioned foldable flaps or top sections 2Il and 2|,which form the lclosure for the container. These top sections havecontinuing sections 22 which form part of the end Walls when the flapsare in opened position as shown in Fig. 3 and which are bent to assumean over-lapping position 23 to overlap the side wall, when the containeris closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The edges of the top sections are supported by bracing bars 24, whichare suitably covered'with a leather covering 25, and which are stitchedas at 2B to the edges of the top sections. The opposite ends of thebracing bar are bent at substantially right angles to the longitudinalaxis of the bar and diverge slightly outwardly. The ends of the bar areof a length so that when-they are secured to the container they willterminate in the continuing section as at 21, short of the centerthereof. It will be noted that the' bracing bars terminating at points21 in the upper end sections tend tosupport the flap sections in an openposition when the flap sections 20 and 2| are swung upwardly and that asthe flaps are folded downwardly to their closing position the continuingsections 22 will be moved downwardly and outwardly to assume theoverlapping position 23 of the end walls. With this overlappingarrangement the end walls of the body of the container are not pushed orcrowded inwardly, thereby preserving the full capacity of compartmentspace normally defined by the side and end walls.

Also suitably secured to the edges of the top flaps adjacent to thebracing bars are webs 28 which support interlocking fastener elements 29and which by the actuation of a coacting slide 30 are adapted to besecured together as shown in Figs. land 2. To facilitate opening of thetop sections, I provide a pair of gripping flaps 3l which are securedthereto.

Interiorly of the container I provide a lining of waterproof fabric 32.which is secured adjacent to the bracing bar as at 33. Secured to thebottom of this fabric is a. layer of stiffened cardboard which restsagainst the bottom of the container.

It will be seen that when the top sections are folded and are in fullyclosed position they are positioned in a plane substantially parallelwith the base, .thus providing a neat, compact, symmetrical container.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4, I

provide a container similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, save thatinstead of forming a plurality of substantially rigid sections, Iprovide a single rigid section 35 and a flexible bellowed section 36.

It will be understood that instead of providing walls formed both ofsubstantially rigid and ilexible sections, I can provide walls formedentirely oi one or the other without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the character described comprising a base,collapsible and extensible side walls. end walls, a pair of oppositelypositioned closure iiaps formed as a continuation of said side walls andadapted when folded to lie in a plane substantially parallel with saidbase, said ilaps having foldable continuing end sections adapted to formthe upper part o! the end walls, supporting bars secured to each of saidflaps and said continuing end sections and adapted to cooperate withsaid continuing end sections to maintain said flaps in an open position,means determining a fold-line between said end walls and said endsection at the plane of the top, said flaps being of such width that assaid ilaps are moved to closing position the supporting 4bars will forcesaid continuing end sections outwardiy around said fold-line toexteriorly overlap the end walls, interlocking fastener elements securedadjacent each said supporting bar, and a co-acting slide adapted tointerlock said Iastener elements when said flaps are in closed position.

2. In a bag of the character described having rigid side and end walls,ilexible closure flaps including flexible end sections, and U shapedbars lining the jaws of the bag, the aps being of such width to requirethe ends of the U bars to overlap the rigid end sections and force theflexible lend sections in overlapping relation therewith.

3. In a bag ot the character described comprising a base and side andend walls, a pair of oppositely positioned closure flaps formed as acontinuation of said side walls adapted when folded to lie in a planesubstantially parallel with said base, said closure aps having flexiblecontinuing end sections adapted to form the upper part of the end walls,and U-shaped supporting bars lining the jaws of the bag and saidcontinuing end sections and adapted to cooperate with said continuingend sections to maintain said closure ilaps in an open position, saidendwalls at the plane of the top being constructed to prevent distortionand determine a fold line for said continuing end section, and saidclosure ilaps being of such width that as said flaps are moved toclosing position the supporting-bars will force said ilexible continuingend section around Vsaid fold-line into overlapping relation with saidend walls exteriorly of said end walls.

CHARLES DOPPELT.

